Up to four destination organizations will be selected to participate. Each destination organization can have up to two participants. The CTO recommends two participants per organization to ensure knowledge sharing across departments and long-term viability of strategies and actions developed during the program.

The Colorado Tourism Climate Champions Program is designed as an educational opportunity that involves a time commitment from participants to achieve desired outcomes. Each participant is expected to commit to 10 hours per month over the course of the 7-month period (approximately 70 hours total), which includes:

• 60-minute virtual program kick-off call.
• Eight (8) online learning modules.
• Eight (8) applied learning lessons.
• Three (3) 90-minute virtual peer learning sessions.
• Three (3) 60-minute virtual climate action coaching sessions per participating destination organization.
• One (1) climate action plan per participating destination organization.

Eligible Colorado destination organizations include:

• Recipients of jurisdictional lodging taxes, such as:
  • Destination marketing organizations.
  • Lodging tax boards, committees, or panels.
• Other tourism leadership organizations that are responsible for developing, promoting, and managing tourism on behalf of a destination that does not have a lodging tax, such as:
  • Chambers of commerce or chamber resort associations.
• Government entities in Colorado (federally recognized tribes and local governments) engaged in tourism development, promotion, and management.

Applicant lead and one other participant from the destination organization will commit to:

• Completing the online learning modules and companion workbook.
• Participating in a scheduled kick-off call and three peer sessions.
• Coordinating and attending three climate action coaching sessions.
• Developing climate action strategies customized to their destination.
  • Existing regional or local climate action plans should be considered when developing tourism climate action strategies.
• Only one application can be submitted for an individual destination.
  • Multiple organizations within a single destination should collaborate on a single program application.
• Participation in previous Colorado Tourism Office programming does not impact eligibility or competitiveness

The following applicants were awarded for this year’s program:

• Aspen Chamber Resort Association
• Snowmass Tourism
• Town of Mount Crested Butte
• Visit Durango

Applications are now closed.

For questions, please contact hilary.lewkowitz@state.co.us.